Colitis Crohns Disease Article

Crohn's Disease and IBD

It is estimated that more than 500,000 people suffer from Crohn's disease. It is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes problems in the intestinal tract. It can be life threatening so the disease needs to be monitored closely by a physician. The disease can occur anywhere in your digestive tract.

Crohn's disease affects the intestines and can be a very debilitating emotionally difficult disease to deal with. Most generally, it is a hereditary condition that affects both sexes equally.

The disease has some of the same symptoms as inflammatory bowel disease and they are closely related. These diseases affect the entire digestive system which can result in some severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, cramping, nausea and vomiting.

The treatment of Crohn's disease varies widely depending on severity. The symptoms can be mild as patients may have sporadic problems with nausea and diarrhea but the symptoms do not occur everyday. Some patients have an episode every few months or only 2-3 times a year. The disease is chronic and will not go away. If the symptoms are mild, most patients can live a normal life.

A severe case of Crohn's disease would entail very frequent episodes of diarrhea and nausea, possibly vomiting. The patient most typically suffers severe pain usually in the lower abdominal area. The patient may have a dramatic loss in weight, inflammation, skin problems and fever.

Physicians may recommend blood tests be done as well as request a stool sample. If the patient has a high white cell count, this could mean there is inflammation somewhere in the body. The stool sample is tested for blood and signs of infection.

There are complications that can cause problems such as a blockage which can thicken the intestinal walls and cause swelling. The disease can also cause abscesses and sores that may damage tissue in the bladder and other organs.

Inflammatory Bowel disease causes similar problems. However, it is hard to diagnose because there may not be any symptoms for years and the problems may relate to other conditions such as the flu. Blood tests and a colonoscopy are generally recommended to determine if the patient has inflammatory bowel disease.

At times, it may be difficult to cope with either of these conditions. Both of these diseases are chronic and will not go away. The disease can cause problems and then the symptoms may go away and then return suddenly. Physicians recommend that you keep track of when the episodes occur as they may be related to stress and possibly other emotional problems. It is recommended that you develop a support system and follow all directions, that your physician prescribes. Consult your physician if your symptoms get worse.